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Expat guides, tips, and resources for living in Japan in 2026. Updated information for foreigners navigating daily life in Japan — from apps and banking to food and transport.
Prime Minister Takaichi announced on October 29 that electricity and gas subsidies return for December through February, worth about ¥7,000 per household. Here are the reported per-kWh rates, a worked bill example, and what is still unconfirmed.
Okinawa's Shuri Castle main hall reopens to the public on November 23, 2026, seven years after the 2019 fire. Here are the reported ticket prices, the time-slot reservation system, what is still closed, and how to plan your visit.
VisitClub, Japan's new inbound influencer platform, officially launches November 1, 2026. If you're a creator in Japan with 1,000+ followers, here's how restaurant and hotel collaborations work, who gets selected, and how to sign up.
Japan dropped the ¥88,000-a-month wage test for employee pension and health insurance on October 1, 2026. Part-timers working 20+ hours a week at larger companies are now enrolled regardless of pay. Here is who is covered, who is not, and the 2027-2035 rollout.
Japan's summer electricity and gas subsidy stopped after September usage, so the first bill without it arrives in November. Here are the confirmed discount amounts, realistic bill increases, and what we know about a winter subsidy.
JR East raised fares on March 14, 2026 for the first full-scale revision since 1987: 7.1% on average, 12% on commuter passes and up to 22.9% for Yamanote-area passes. Here are the numbers, Tokyo examples and ways to cut the cost.
Tokyo plans to replace its flat ¥100–¥200 hotel tax with a 3% charge on room rates above ¥13,000 a night from April 2027, and to extend it to Airbnb-style rentals. Here is how much more you will pay and what is still pending approval.
Since April 2026, a child and child-rearing support levy of 0.23% rides on Japan's public health insurance premiums. Here is what it costs per month, who pays it (children or not), when it shows on your payslip, and what it funds.